Former Staffer Sues GOP for Defamation

Former Tennessee Republican Party chief of staff Mark Winslow is including the state party in a defamation suit against U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Chattanooga, and advisor Chip Saltsman, the Tennessean reports. Winslow claims a television ad that ran shortly before the 2010 Republican primaries stated that Fleischmann's opponent, and former party chairwoman, Robin Smith paid “lavish bonuses” to staff, including Winslow. The suit states the ad may have referred to the severance payment Winslow received although it was supposed to be confidential. Winslow claims the depiction of his payment was libelous and that he lost political consulting work as a result.